Ball-actuated racing game device



W. A. MALKA N 'BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE April s, i952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1947 April 8 1952 w. A. MALKAN 2,591,956

BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE Filed May 24. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. l/l//zz /4/14 4 /l/,4z /f//v Y BY @QT April 8, 1952 w. A. MALKAN 2,591,956

BALL-ACTUATED RACINGGAME DEVICE Filed May 24. 1947 v z sheets-sheet s JNVENTOR. 14M 4 4444/44/ Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims. 1

This invention relates to a game device and has particular reference to a game device which simulates a horse race or the like.

The invention has for an object the provision of a racing game in which the racingelements are moved in such a manner as to render the outcome of the game uncertain to the end so as to provide a fascinating and interesting game.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a game of the indicated character in which rollable members have striking engagement with the racing elements for moving .the same down inclined guide tracks and in which the rollable members after striking the racing elements are continuously brought into position for repeated striking engagement therewith until one of the racing elements has travelled the length of the inclined guide track.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a racing game wherein the outcome is not dependent upon the skill of the players so that children and adults may participate with equal interest and opportunity of winning.

Still another object of the invention is n the provision of means for selectively` positioning the rollable members for striking the racing elements independently of the players control.

With the foregoing and other objects in view reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a game` device constructed in accordance with the invention and shown with part of the housing in section for illustrating the underlying construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on linev5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the inclined guide track and support therefor and illustrating the same with one of the racing elements arranged in the track.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional View taken approximately on line 'I--l of Fig.v 4.

iig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the racing elements I0 consist of a plurality of representations of horses with their jockeys mounted thereon but it is to be understood that the racing elements may consist of the representations of any desired animals or figures.

The game device includes a housing II consisting of a bottom wall I2, longitudinally extending side walls I3 and I4, front and rear end walls I5 and I6, and a top wall I1. The top wall I'I extends from the forward end wall I5 in inclined relationl toward the rear and terminates in spaced relation from the rear end wall I6. Arranged upon the upper surface of the top w'all I'I are a plurality of transversely spaced guide tracks I8 for the racing elements I0 which guide tracks are of channel shaped formation in cross-sectional configuration and extend the full length of the top wall I1 and at the rear thereof extend upwardly therefrom in sharply inclined relation. At their lower ends the guide tracks I8 protrude beyond the end wall I5 to thereby Aprovide abutments against which pivotally mounted goal members I9 may be disposed in upstanding relation and in position to be struck by the racing elements for overturning the said goal members so as to indicate the end of the race and the winning racing element.

The racing elements are moved in the guide tracks I8 by means of rollable elements 20 such as steel balls which are deposited in the guide tracks at the upper end thereof. The steel balls gain momentum as they travel down the inclined guide tracks and upon striking the racing elements propel the same forward, after which the balls roll into the guideways 2I formed by the transverse spacing of the`r guide tracks. Located beneath the top wall I'I is a rearwardly sloping trough 22 into which the balls 20 drop through openings 23 at the lower end of the guideways. The trough 22 extends the full Width of the housing II and from the front wall I5 toward the rear with the tapered rear end portion disposed centrallyjabove a selector 24 onto which the balls 20 are deposited through a central opening 25 located at the apex of the'converging side rails 26extending along the edges of the said tapered rear end portion.

, The selector 24 is designed for distributing the balls 20. into rearwardly sloping chutes 21, one being provided for each guide track I8 with outlet openings 28 inthe selector 24 registering respectively with theupper ends of the chutes 21. The selector 24 consists of a stationary circular bed 29 having an upstanding peripheral rim 30 and formed with the openings 28 arranged in circumferentially spaced relation adjacent the rim. The bed 29 is supported in spaced relation above the bottom Wall I2 of the housing II by means of a bracket 3| and between the bed 29 and the bottom Wall I2 is a vertically disposed shaft 32 journaled for rotation on a vertical axis with the upper end thereof protruding centrally through the bed 29 and having a rotating arm 33 affixed to the upper end thereof. The shaft 32 is rotated by an endless cord or cable 34 operating over a pulley wheel 35 and drum 36 respectively aflxed to the said shaft and to a horizontally disposed shaft 31 journaled for rotation in the side walls I3 and I4 of the housing II.

Secured on the shaft 31 are cylindrical conveyors 38 provided with pockets 39 for receiving the balls from the chutes 21 and for elevating and discharging the same into the upper ends of the guide tracks I8. The cylindrical conveyors 38 correspond in number to the number of guide tracks I8 and as viewed from the front are respectively located to the left thereof. The shaft 31 on which the cylindrical conveyors 38 are mounted is provided with a crank handle 40 for turning the same in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left hand side as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Rotating the shaft 31 in this manner produces a rotation of the arm 33 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The cylindrical conveyors 38 are provided with any desired number of pockets 39 for receiving and elevating the balls 28, four such pockets being shown in the embodiment illustrated. The pockets 39 are each of cubical formation having .opposite end Walls 4I and 42 which slope from the open side 43 toward the opposite side wall and toward the cuter periphery of the conveyor. The pockets also include opposite side walls 44 and 45 which are arranged in parallel planes disposed in rearwardly directed relation from thev open side 43 to the opposite side wall of the conveyor. The arrangement of the said walls is such that the Wall 4I of the pocket slopes away from the adjacent chute 21 as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings so that the balls will roll from the chute through the open side 43 and will rest upon the end wall 4I and against the angularly disposed rearwardly directed side wall 44. When the pocket has reached a position slightly before its highest position above the shaft 31 the ball therein will roll from its said position to the opposite end wall 42 and opposite side wall 45 which Walls areangularly directed towards one of the guide tracks I8. Constructed in this manner the balls delivered to the chutes 21 by the selector .24 will roll into the pockets of the conveyors respectively and will then be elevated and before passing its highest position above the shaft 31 will roll into their corresponding guide track I8 for striking engagement with the racing elements.

The racing elements I each include an elongated base 46 which is of a width to slidably engage ln the guide tracks I8. The upper surface of the base 46 is inclined from the rear end to approximately midway of the length thereof for directing the balls 29 from the guide tracks I8 onto said base for striking engagement against the forwardly directed pedestal portion 41 on which the representation of the racing figure is mounted. After striking the pedestal portion 41 the balls roll laterally down the inclined surface 48 at the rear of the pedestal portion 41, the rear face 49 of which is disposed in angular relation with the guide track I8 for directing the ball laterally down the inclined surface 48 and onto the guideway 2I at the left of the guide track.

In playing the game the racing elements I0 are arranged in the guide tracks I8 at the starting position adjacent the upper end of the top Wall I1, the participants each selecting one of the racing elements. The balls 20 are deposited in the trough 22 there being any number of balls desired which would preferably be thirty or forty when the game embodies eight guide tracks as illustrated. It will be understood that the greater the number of balls employed, the faster the race Will progress. The crank handle 40 is turned to rotate the arm 33 so as to move the balls fed from the trough 22 onto the bed 29 until they drop through the openings 28 therein and into the chutes 21. The balls 20 are thus indiscriminately fed into the chutes 21 by the rotating arm 33 independently of the control of the players. The balls then enter the pockets 39 in the cylindrical conveyors 38 and are elevated thereby and then roll into the guide tracks I 8 adjacent the upper ends of the sharply inclined portions thereof. rIhe balls then roll down the guide tracks and upon striking the racing element propel the same a short distance down the inclined tracks I8. The balls then return to the trough 22 .and the cycle of operation is repeated until one of the racing elements has engaged and overturned the goal member I9 to win Vthe race and end the game.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted for receiving racing elements therein and for receiving rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement therewith, a rotary conveyor located adjacent each guide track and having pockets for receiving and elevating the rollable members and for feeding the same into the guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements, a base disposed below said guide tracks and having discharge outlets corresponding in number to said guide tracks, a rotary member movable over said base for indiscriminately directing the rollable members into said discharge outlets independently of the skill of the players, guideways disposed adjacent to said guide tracks for receiving said rollable members after said members strike the racing elements and for directing the rollable members to said base, and inclined guide chutes extending from said rotary member to said rotary conveyors for receiving the rollable members from said discharge outlets and for directing the rollable members to the conveyors respectively.

2. In a game device. a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted for receiving racing elements therein and for receiving rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement therewith, rotary conveyors located adjacent said guide tracks for receiving and elevating the rollable members and for discharging the same into said guide tracks respectively, inclined guide chutes having their lower ends disposed adjacent said rotary oonveyors for directing the rollable members to the rotary conveyors respectively, and rotary means located below said guide tracks for receiving said rollable members after striking the racing elements and for indiscriminately directing the rollable members into said guide chutes independently of the skill of the players.

3. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted for receiving racing elements therein and for receiving rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement therewith, rotary conveyors located adjacent said guide tracks for receiving and elevating the rollable members and for discharging the same into the guide tracks respectively at the rear of the racing elements, inclined guide chutes having their lower ends disposed adjacent said rotary conveyors for directing the rollable members to said rotary conveyors respectively, rotary means located below said guide tracks and abovethe upper ends of said guide chutes for indiscriminately directing the rollable members into said guide chutes independently of the skill of the players, and guideways located alongside of said guide tracks respectively for receiving said rollable members after striking the racing elements and for directing the rollable members to said rotary means.

4. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks, racing elements movable in said guide tracks and said guide tracks being adapted for receiving rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement therewith, rotary conveyors located adjacent said guide tracks for receiving and elevating the rollable members and for discharging the same into the guide tracks respectively at the rear of the racing elements, inclined guide chutes having their lower ends disposed adjacent said rotary conveyors for directing the rollable members to the rotary conveyors respectively, rotary means located below said guide tracks and above the upper ends of said guide chutes for indiscriminately directing the rollable members into the guide chutes respectively independently of the skill of the players, guideways disposed alongside of said guide tracks respectively for receiving said rollable members after striking the racing elements and for directing the same to said means, and said racing elements having inclined bases for directing the rollable members thereupon into striking engagement With an upright portion of said racing elements for propelling the same and said bases having laterally sloping upper surfaces for directing the rollable members into said guideways after striking said upright portions.

veyors for directing the rollable members to said rotary conveyors respectively, a rotary device located below said guide tracks and above the upper ends of said guide chutes for receiving said rollable members after striking the racing elements and for indiscriminately directing the rollable members into the guide chutes respectively independently of the skill of the players, and said pockets having walls sloping away from said guide chutes when the pockets are approximately at their lowest position of rotation of the rotary conveyors and having walls sloping towards said guide tracks when said pockets are approximately at their highest position of rotation of said rotary conveyors for receiving the rollable members from said guide chutes and for discharging the same into the guide tracks.

W'IIMAM A. MALKAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,707,859. Johnson Apr. 2, 1929 2,027,244 Moorman Jan. 7, 1936 2,083,119 Hense June 8, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 216,787 Great Britain June 5, 1924 416,494 Great Britain Sept. 17, 1934 

